Skip to main content
Participating Frequently
April 1, 2021
In Development

Maintain folder structures on import

  • April 1, 2021
  • 131 replies
  • 20016 views
Add an option to preserve empty folder structures on import!

Often I or an assistant editor will create a folder structure in the finder with empty folders to be populated with media later on in the production workflow (i.e. Final mix stems, color files, graphics). Currently if you import empty folders or folders with only one item in them, those empty folders disappear on import and the single item that was inside them is left outside any folder. This prevents planning and proper organization, and I'm not sure what the benefit of it is? Fewer folders? But I wanted those, that's why I made them.

Just leave the folder structures as they are, don't change them. If some users want an option to "automatically remove empty folders on import" then add that, but don't make removing them the default.


Importing empty folder structures is an essential organizational tool for any medium to large scale professional production. I made this same request in May of 2018 and have never gotten a response or seen it addressed, I really I hope I do this time!

131 replies

Private0001
Participant
January 24, 2023
Here we are in late 2022, after learning the software over the last few weeks, I discovered this problem today as a new user to premiere pro. Why the blank would you make life so difficult with file structure for every software you have? I'm SOOO mad I could eat my keyboard!

Just allow users to import empty folders so they can set up a folder template that contains a structure like "footage" "audio" "Graphics" "Photos" "Documents" "Music" and such.

Been around since photoshop 2... not CS2, 1990's photoshop 2. To all new users, I would run to other software solutions. I've already walked away from Dreamweaver to Visual Studio Code. Next is Premiere, Lightroom & Photoshop.

Customer feedback is ignored and customer service has been GONE for years.
gil754
Participating Frequently
January 24, 2023
It seems like a no-brainer to fix this. Media files often come in an organised folder structure and Premiere ruins it.
Known Participant
January 24, 2023
I just upgraded myself from "important" to "critical." I'm working on a large project right now and I can feel the hours of wasted time building up because of this change in Premiere.
Participant
January 24, 2023
I've come from Version 22.3.1 to 22.6.2 and all the work I've put into organizing and structuring my footage is for nothing. I'm a professional earning my living with Premiere and editing.
I'd loosing A LOT of time right now, so I'm going back to version 22.3.1
PLEASE ADOBE make Premiere PRO again. Right now it's becoming less and less useable for professionals!
vcr100
Participating Frequently
January 24, 2023
Typical Adobe - does not address any user issues.
Participating Frequently
January 24, 2023
Please!
DJP2014
Inspiring
January 24, 2023
Yep, a constant annoyance on each and every project. Please fix
Participant
January 24, 2023
This NEEDS to be addressed. Media professionals need this.
Participating Frequently
January 24, 2023
When you have hundreds of folders from hundreds of shoots across multiple systems, this is critical to management.
Participant
January 24, 2023
Every professional video editor I know use a folder strucure for his projects on the hard drive. I use the same folder structure for every middle or big project for organizing footage and all other data for the project. It would be great if I could import this folder structure from the hard drive, which is already partially filled with data, into Premiere and thus display the same structure from the hard drive in Premiere (even with the folders still empty). I still have to unnecessarily manually create the folder structure in Premiere for each project. Please change that! It can't be that such a basic function for a professional workflow is only available through a third party!